The Nasdaq opened higher on Wednesday after results from Intel Corp boosted optimism about earnings, while the Dow and S&P 500 indexes opened down slightly after data showed sales at U.S. retailers fell for a second straight month in June.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was down 14.54 points, or 0.14 percent, at 10,348.48. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was down 2.56 points, or 0.23 percent, at 1,092.78. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 7.59 points, or 0.34 percent, at 2,249.62.

(Reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch)

Intel